Here's a dare for long-term couples who enjoy the horror genre: Get comfortable with your loved one and watch Together. The independent film success of 2025 just made its streaming debut via Hulu. Outwardly, it may seem like standard biological terror, but inside Together exists a profound examination about the ways we decide to love each other.
An Introductory Film Exploring Partnership Complexities
Together represents the first full-length movie for director Michael Shanks. It showcases actors Alison Brie and Dave Franco as Millie and Tim, partners that have remained a couple for ten years. United in marriage in reality in 2017, Franco and Brie contribute a special spark to their portrayals, masterfully depicting both the strengths and weaknesses of a committed partnership.
The plot begins when the couple transition from the metropolis to the country for Millie’s job. A somewhat stereotypical story element, of course, but that’s largely where the cliches end. Together transforms into as much a deep dive into the psyche of the pair’s relationship as it is a body horror flick.
A Supernatural Catalyst
While trekking near their country house, a tempest descends, and the protagonists tumble into an subterranean cavern. After spending the night there and eventually escaping, a supernatural entity takes hold of the couple. This force compels a otherworldly bond between them that goes well past simple connection.
The entire film is a methodically building fright fest, weaving in moments of fever-dream horrors, disturbing (but not excessively graphic) physical transformations, and surprisingly comedic dialogue (sometimes during something disturbing). Shanks weaves these elements together expertly and delivers them in a slowly mounting aura of dread.
Layered Performances
A large part of Together is only Brie and Franco, and they skillfully illustrate countless layers to the characters’ relationship. Millie's sense of self and sense of connection is suffering due to a distance. Her unspoken irritation of Tim for his unwillingness to focus on anything other than his struggling artistic pursuits inexorably rises.
In contrast, Tim's character senses confinement and isolated by Millie, who’s the cause they’ve relocated rural and removed from his social circle. He dreads the concept of completely losing his individual identity in Millie. This fear is further exacerbated by the reality he lacks a driver's license and relies on Millie for transportation.
The film's most intelligent aspect in Together never makes either of his characters the definite antagonist.
The couple confront the kind of problems that are inherent in most partnerships after ten years. Deep down, they have affection for each other. They still laugh together, comfort one another, and share intimately at times. But below this facade, there’s an unavoidable feeling of questioning about their future together.
Thematic Depth
While the paranormal elements in Together act as a metaphor for these fears of codependency and totally devoting oneself to another person, the symbolism avoids being clumsy or heavy-handed. Instead, these more disturbing, unsettling scenes offer a ideal counterpart to the character-driven drama. Both the frights and the fights work together in harmony.
A Divisive Ending
Together’s conclusion, which is best experienced firsthand, has left audiences divided on the movie's final takeaway about codependent relationships. Reports indicate that those not in relationships have understood the narrative as a powerful case for staying single. Conversely, a few pairs who were in conflict found that the film ended up guiding them to make up.
If you are alone or with a partner, your own interpretation could function as a great barometer of how you perceive partnership. Will the conclusion sow feelings of uneasiness and dread, or a uplifting feeling of optimism? Will you recognize your own traits in Tim or Millie and scream at your TV, or simply glance toward your partner and state, “I understand that choice”?
No matter your reaction, Together is an exploration you can undertake right now.
Together is streaming on the streaming service Hulu as of this moment.
